FRIENDS of the ousted Manchester United boss insisted he did not hit alleged victim Joshua Gillibrand, but grabbed him by the lapels outside the wine bar in Lancashire.

Joshua claims Moyes punched him in the back of the head after he said hello outside bar

FORMER Manchester United boss David Moyes has been accused of attacking a man outside a wine bar.

Moyes was accused of punching the man three times after being upset by taunts.

But a friend of the Scottish football boss insisted he had not hit the man, but grabbed him by the lapels.

Alleged victim Joshua Gillibrand, 23, claims he was punched and knocked to the floor.

Moyes, who was sacked last month by United after just 10 months, had just finished having a meal with two friends in Clitheroe, Lancashire, when the altercation allegedly took place.

He was with Derek Shaw, formerly chairman of Preston North End, who Moyes managed between 1998 and 2002 and another friend.

After leaving a restaurant they walked across the road to The Emporium wine bar.

There Moyes was recognised by drinkers outside and the former Everton boss is believed to have been on the receiving end of abuse and is said to have reacted to the taunts.

A friend of Moyes said: “David had a meal with his friend Derek Shaw and afterwards, at about 9.30pm, they were both walking past a bar when two lads started giving David abuse about Manchester United.

“David grabbed one by his lapels, but didn’t hit him.

“A police car happened to be parked opposite, so they were on the scene very quickly and no one was arrested or cautioned.”

But Joshua, a joiner, claims he simply asked to shake Moyes’s hand and was stunned when he was then attacked from behind.

He needed hospital treatment after the incident and was yesterday said to be involved in talks with a solicitor.

After the alleged attack he made his way home by train to nearby Ribchester, but was later taken to hospital.

Joshua’s brother Oliver, 24, said: “Joshua was in the bar catching up with a friend when they noticed David Moyes there.

“He said, ‘Hello David, what are you doing round here?’ David told him to f*** off and hit him on the back of the head.

“The police interviewed Joshua, took a statement and left him to make his way to hospital.

“He is concussed and has some swelling.”

Joshua’s mum Susan, 53, added: “He is alright. He is not so bad. He has got a sore shoulder. He has got a bump on his head and he was hit on the shoulder.

“All I know is he has gone out last night with his friends and he has been hit on the head.”

Joshua was back at work yesterday and his mum added: “He has been told not to say anything until he has had his interview with the police.”

A police statement said: “Police are investigating a report of an assault.

“There are a number of differing accounts which we need to work through to try to establish exactly what has happened. .”

Moyes has been linked with the manager’s job at Celtic following Neil Lennon’s decision to quit.

There was no sign of him at his luxury home in Haighton Green near Preston yesterday.

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